Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 577 Star Return To The Sky

Anna knew he wasn't the type to mess around with her feelings.

After being locked up for so many years and trying countless times to escape without success, hearing him suddenly say she was free felt unreal-like something out of a dream.

Taylor gently brushed his fingers against her cheek. "You won't have to see me again. Go live your own life. I'm sorry for ruining it."

Even though he said those things, Anna couldn't fully believe him. It all seemed too suspicious—like he still had something up his sleeve.

It wasn't until the following day, when Taylor truly let her go, that Anna finally felt grounded again.

But almost instantly, another fear crept in-what if he had planted some kind of tracker inside her? No matter how far she ran, he could still find her.

She might never be free of his grasp.

So when Taylor asked, "Anna, can I have a hug?"

She didn't respond-just turned her back to him and walked away.

He suddenly pulled her into an embrace from behind, his voice hoarse and trembling. "You really are cold, Anna."

Guilt flickered in her heart for a moment, but before she could react, he had already let her go. "Take care of yourself," he said quietly. "Go on now-don't come back."

Chloe guided her toward the boat. Once it had sailed some distance, Anna stepped into the cabin-only to find her father alive and waiting.

He was lying to her.

Chloe handed her a small vial, saying it was from Taylor. Once she drank it, all her memories would fade away.

Taylor had brought up this potion before, but back then, Anna couldn't bring herself to forget everyone at the Sanders.

Now, he wanted her to take it-to erase the memory of who he was.

He hadn't hidden a chip on her—this time, he genuinely meant to disappear from her life.

Anna rushed to the deck, scanning the pier for any trace of Taylor, but he was nowhere to be seen. Still, deep down, she was certain he was watching from somewhere nearby.

He once told her she was the rose he'd nurtured with his own hands.

With how deeply he loved her, how could he possibly let her go now, of all times?

Unless he had something even more important than holding on to her love.

Tears streamed down Anna's face.

Chloe asked if she was still going to take the potion, but Anna quietly shook her head.

She wasn't ready to erase the memory of him. She never wanted to forget. Remembering his final words, Anna felt as if a weight had lifted.

Was she truly free now?

She sat curled up on the deck for what felt like hours, hugging her knees and lost in thought. Eventually, Chloe reappeared, draping a coat over her shoulders and gently repeating Taylor's last few words and wishes.

hit her then—she had really walked away from him. There was no turning

last, she was going home-to the Sander residence she

the house was falling apart, having Greg, her

had a purpose-to stand by her parents and

into the courtyard where she'd spent her childhood, it looked just

trees had grown tall and

painted, but in her mind, it swung with echoes

older now as she gently took Anna's hand and guided

let her

most of her days at the Bolton residence, barely showing up at the Sander residence, which had allowed the place to remain mostly unchanged

drew

each

felt comforting to

feel like

because she wasn't used to it yet; time would eventually

returned to Snowville as

to change her name, believing that

her name

Not Anna, not Alice.

on, she would

sky, numbers fade away, and a

A fresh start.

be no more Taylor, nor the painful memories; life was still long, and she had

day, she kept up the appearance of being calm,

dream,

crowns behind her back, he taught her to dance, and he

in a passionate embrace.

"Taylor!"

out his name as she woke

around-empty. That familiar warmth, the arms

to her chest, where a seed had long ago been planted, now quietly taking

potion, her fingers brushing over

sip, and all

and again, until Anna finally understood-forgetting him simply

couldn't bring herself to do

a part of her, as natural and

like she hadn't had a sip in days. It was just thirst, she told herself-nothing to do with the fact that she'd woken up with Taylor on her mind

she wiped her tears, they kept falling on their own.

she'd eventually move on that time would

Taylor was really gone. No calls,

vanished off the face of the earth,

twenty years had become nothing

the ground, gazing up at the moonlight above. Were all those years with him just an

only dreamed

lost Anna felt each night, by